Adjustable strap for blectric-lighting fixtures



Feb. 26, 1929. T I 1,703,649

7 T M. WEINSTEIN ADJUSTABLE STRAP FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Aug. 11, 1927 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT o l-" lea.

MORRIS WEINSTEIN, OF PASSAIC, JERSEY, ,ASSIGNOR TO LINCOLN ELECTRICAL SUPPLY CO., A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY. P

. ADJUSTABLE STRAP FOR ELEGIRIC-LIGHTING FIXTURES.

Application filed August 11, 1927. Serial No. 212,193,

' This invention relates to adjustable straps for supporting electric light fixtures from outlet boxes, one object of the invention being tozprovide a novel and improved construction including aininiinum number of strong, durable, simple and inexpensive parts, whereby the strap may be easily adjusted to many difierent lighting fixtures and will withstand hard usage and heavy strains.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which includes a body section and a pair of extension pieces, and embodies novel and improved means for securing the extension pieces upon the body section for longitudinal sliding movement.

Further objects are to provide such a construction which at the same'time is strong and yet may be bent or curved by an electrician to accommodate special conditions; to provide an adjustable fixture strap formed of sheet metal and requiring few operations in manufacture and assembly of the parts, and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an adjustable strap for electric lighting fixtures, showing the same in use for supporting a ceiling light which is shown in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the underside of the strap as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the upper side of the strap;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of connecting the extension pieces to the body section.

Specifically describing theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference ch aracter A designates an outlet box of ordinary form which includes a threaded fixture supporting stud B to which. is connected the adjustable strap 0 embodying the invention which in turn supports the electric light fixture D. I

The adjustable strap embodying the invention includes a body section 1 which is centrally apertured as at 2 and has oppositely extended arms 3 which are longitudinally slotted at 4. The body section is formed of sheet metal and the aperture 2 and the slots (7" 4 are preferably formed by stamping operations, the edges of the opening 2 being pressed from the upper, side of the body section as indicated at 5 to reinforce the body section. 7 Upon one side of each arm 3 of the body section is slidably arranged an extension piece 6 also formed of sheet metal. Adjacent the inner ends, thereof the extension pieces are formed with alined notches 7 at opposite longitudinal edges thereof, which are of a width greater than the thickness of the arms 3. These notches 7 form neck portions 8 of a width less than that of the slots 4, and heads 9 wider than the slots 4, preferably substantially the full width of the extension pieces. The neck portions 8 are bentat substantially right angles to the respective extension pieces and extend through the respective slots 4 with .the heads 9 underlying the sides of the arms 3 opposite the extension pieces 6. The extension pieces are also formed with longitudinal slots 10, and headed screws 11 havetheir shanks passing through said slots and secured in openings 12 in the respective arms 3 of the body sections, the heads of said screws overlying the respective extension pieces, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. With this construction, the extension pieces are longitudinally slidable on the body section, the t necks 8 and heads 9 cooperating with the screws 11 to secure the extension pieces upon the body section for longitudinal sliding movement. Obviously the head 9 and necks 8 provide one point of bearing of the extension pieces upon thebody section, while the screws 11 form other points of engagement, so that any binding action or lateral movement of the extension pieces upon the body section, are prevented. The outer extremity of each extension piece is formed with a threaded opening 13 to receive a screw 14.

In mounting the extension pieces upon the body section. the extension pieces are so held that the heads 9 are in substantial alinement with the slots 4, as shown in Figure 5. The heads are then slipped through the slots, after which the extension pieces are swung through an angle of ninety degrees whereby the heads 9 are located at substantially right angles to the slots 4. The screws 11 are then secured in the body section.

The adjustable strap is used in known manner, the body section 1 being slipped over the threaded stud B of the outlet box A and se- I cured thereon by a nut or the like E. The screws 11 are loosened and the extension pieces slid upon the body section until they are properly located to receive the fixture D,

after which the screws 14 are applied to connect the fixture to the extremities of the extension pieces, all as clearly shown in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. It will be observed that the arms 3 of the body section may be bent, as may also the extension pieces 6, to accommodate any special conditions, there being no flanges or other projections on the longitudinal edges of either the arms of the extension pieces to interfere with such bending at any desired point. 7 v

It-"is of course within thescope of the invention to utilize other forms of connections than the necks 8 and heads 9,'and other guide means than the screws 11 might be utilized to cooperate with the means 8, 9. Also, the

extension pieces might be arranged at opposite sides of the body'section instead 01' upon the same side as illustrated, and other details of construction may be modified or changed bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art. v

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: 1 l

1. An. adjustable strap for lighting 'fixtures, comprising a body section having a pair of slots,a pair of extension pieces formed of sheetmetal slidably arranged upon one side of said body section, each of which has alined notches of a Width greater than the thickness of said body section in opposite longitudinal edges adjacent one end to form a neck portion of a Width less than that of the respective slot and a head portion wider than said slot,

said neck portions and heads being at substantially right angles to the extension pieces and said necks passing through the respective slots withtheiiheads slidably underlying the side of said body section opposite said extension pieces, and guide means secured to said body section and cooperating hit-h said neck portions and heads to secure said extension pieces for longitudinal slidiing movement upon said body section. t, 2. An adjustable strap for lighting fix tures, comprising a body section having a pair 0t slots, a pair of extension pieces formed of sheet metal slidably arranged upon one side ot' said body section, each of which has alined notches oi a width greater than the thickness of said body section in opposite longitudinal edges adjacent one endto form a neck portion oi a width less than that of the respective slot and a head portion wider than said slot, said neck portions and heads being bent at substantially right angles to the extension pieces and said necks passing through the respective slots with the heads slidably underlying the side of said body section opposite said extension pieces, said extension pieces each having a longitudinal slot, and headed screws passing through said slots in the respective extension pieces and threaded into said body section with their heads overlying the respective extension pieces to cooperate with said neck portions and said heads to secure said extension pieces for longitudinal slidinginovement upon said body section.

M. WEINSTEI'N. 

